Cutting wire assembly for use with a catheter

ABSTRACT

A method of treating a lesion in a body lumen to enlarge a passageway in the lumen including providing a cutting member, connecting a tracking member to the cutting member to form an assembly, inserting the connected cutting member and tracking member through a first lumen of a catheter, withdrawing the catheter from the cutting member and tracking member, inserting the catheter over the tracking member and leaving the cutting member outside the catheter, and expanding a portion of the catheter to move the cutting member into cutting contact with the lesion. A device for treating a lesion in a body lumen including a cutting member having a coupler to connect a tracking member is also provided.

This application claims priority from provisional application Ser. No. 61/415,883, filed Nov. 22, 2010, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

This application relates to a method for treating stenotic lesions of a vessel and more particularly relates to a cutting wire for use with a catheter to open stenotic lesions in vessels.

2. Background of Related Art

Several methods have been utilized to treat stenotic lesions of vessels. With stenotic lesions, the vessel diameter is constricted and therefore attempts have been made to widen this constriction. One method is an invasive surgical procedure where the vessel wall is cut open and the portion containing the plaque or other constricting structure is removed. This procedure is traumatic, complex, and results in a long recovery time for the patient. It also causes a weakening of the vessel wall since a portion of the wall is removed. A weakened wall can ultimately result in an aneurysm which is a dilatation (expansion) of the artery, which adversely affects vessel function and if not surgically treated could be life threatening to the patient.

In order to reduce trauma to the patient, reduce the patient recovery time and reduce hospital costs, minimally invasive procedures have been developed to treat stenotic lesions. Balloon angioplasty is one such method. In angioplasty, a balloon is placed in the stenosed (restricted) portion of the vessel and inflated to compress the plaque against the vessel wall, thereby increasing the lumen in the vessel to improve blood flow. That is, the balloon is inflated to push the lesion radially outwardly to widen the passageway. Some stenotic lesions are resistant to conventional pressure balloons. Consequently, high pressure balloons have been developed to treat resistant stenotic lesions. However, such high pressure balloons apply more force and increase the risk of vessel trauma and rupture. Moreover, sometimes lesions are even resistant to these high pressure balloons.

Additionally, the use of these angioplasty balloon catheters oftentimes have only short term effect as it has been found that restensois frequently occurs after such treatment.

In an attempt to address such drawbacks as reducing the likelihood of restenosis, trauma as well as to treat vessels with highly resistant lesions, cutting balloon catheters were developed. One such device is disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,196,024 which describes a catheter with a balloon and longitudinal cutting edges. One of the many disadvantages of this device, however, is it requires modifications of balloon catheters which significantly increases the cost of the catheter. Another disadvantage is that instead of using the procedural catheter, a different catheter may be required with a cutting balloon. Consequently, the surgeon would need to decide prior to the procedure which type of catheter to utilize, although this may not always be practical as the information to determine the type (e.g. resistance) of the lesion may not be available until the lesion is accessed and the extent of the disease is known. Thus, for example, the surgeon may insert an angioplasty catheter, inflate the balloon and find that it is insufficient to widen the vessel passageway. The surgeon would then need to conduct the time consuming task of removing the catheter and inserting a cutting balloon catheter, threading it through the vascular system over a guidewire. Since the catheters are inserted from a remote site, e.g. through the femoral artery, these catheter exchanges take time and increase trauma to the patient. Additionally, it adds to the cost of the procedure since two catheters would be required. In order to properly treat the diverse size and condition of each lesion a large inventory of multiple sized cutting balloons would be required.

Conversely, in certain procedures, utilizing a cutting balloon in soft lesions increases the risk of trauma or damage to the vessel and therefore it would not be desirable to use a cutting balloon catheter. Thus, an exchange for an angioplasty catheter would be necessary.

Such catheter exchanges might also require guidewire exchanges since the standard 0.035″ guidewire utilized for an angioplasty catheter may be too large for the 0.018″ cutting balloon catheter. The guidewire exchanges complicate the procedure, increase the risk to the patient and increase the procedure time, thereby increasing costs to the patient.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,131,981 attempts to address the foregoing issues by providing a conversion device comprising an insertion tube insertable into the normal 0.035″ guidewire lumen of an angioplasty catheter. This device would not work for angioplasty catheters with small guidewire lumens. The tube has two jacket segments and a guide insert device having a channel and four guide channels. Because of the complexity of the device, the cutting elements in the four channels would need to be sufficiently thin to be maintained in the smaller diameter device. Such thin (small diameter) cutting elements however may be too flexible and not have adequate stiffness to be effective. Additionally, the cutting elements are attached at one end, having an opposite free end which can potentially damage and perforate the vessel wall during use.

The need therefore exists for an improved, more simplified device and method to enable the selective use of a cutting wire for treating stenosis.

SUMMARY

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages and deficiencies of the prior art.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a method of treating a lesion in a body lumen comprising providing a cutting member, connecting a tracking member to the cutting member to form an assembly, inserting the connected cutting member and tracking member through a first lumen of a catheter, withdrawing the catheter from the cutting member and tracking member, inserting the catheter over the tracking member while leaving the cutting member outside the catheter, and expanding a portion of the catheter to move the cutting member into cutting contact with the lesion to enlarge a passageway in the body lumen.

In some embodiments, the step of inserting a catheter over the tracking member comprises reinserting the same catheter through which the cutting member and tracking member were initially inserted. In other embodiments, a different catheter is utilized.

The catheter preferably includes an expandable balloon, and the step of expanding a portion of the catheter preferably includes the step of expanding the balloon to cause the cutting member to be moved radially with respect to the catheter. Preferably, the step of expanding a portion of the catheter causes a gap between the cutting member and tracking member to widen.

In some embodiments, the cutting member has a cutting edge opposite an edge facing the tracking member, and expansion of a portion of the catheter forces the cutting edge into a diseased narrowed section within the lesion.

In some embodiments, the length of the tracking member can exceed the length of the cutting member. The cutting member and tracking member can be in the form of wires.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of treating a lesion in a body lumen to enlarge a passageway in the body lumen comprising providing a cutting member, connecting a tracking member to the cutting member, inserting the connected cutting member and tracking member into the body lumen, inserting a catheter over the tracking member so the tracking member extends through a first lumen of the catheter and the cutting member does not extend through the first lumen, and moving the cutting member away from the tracking member into cutting contact with the lesion to enlarge the passageway in the body lumen.

Preferably, the step of inserting a cutting member and tracking member comprises the step of inserting the cutting member and tracking member through a lumen of a catheter. In some embodiments, the catheter through which the cutting and tracking members are initially inserted is the same catheter subsequently inserted over the tracking member. In other embodiments, a different catheter is utilized. In some embodiments, the step of moving the cutting member comprises the step of expanding a balloon of the catheter. In preferred embodiments, the cutting member and tracking member are wires inserted as a unit into the body lumen.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a device for treating a lesion in a body lumen to enlarge a passageway in a body lumen comprising a cutting member having a proximal portion, a distal portion and a coupler for coupling a tracking member thereto. The cutting member with coupled tracking member are insertable into the body lumen as a unit, the cutting member configured for movement in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the tracking member to widen a gap between the cutting member and tracking member at least at a distal region.

In some embodiments, the cutting member has a cutting surface on a first surface opposite a second surface facing the tracking member. In one embodiment, the cutting member has a cutting surface with a flat edge on an edge opposite the second surface. The second surface can have a convex surface.

In some embodiments, the cutting member has a cutting surface and an atraumatic surface proximal of the cutting surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiment(s) of the present invention are described herein with reference to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional balloon catheter and tracking wire for use with the cutting wire of the present invention;

FIG. 1A is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the area of detail of FIG. 1 showing a portion of the cutting wire in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the cutting wire taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 3A-3E are cross-sectional views of alternate embodiments of the cutting wire of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is side view of the cutting wire and tracking wire of FIG. 1 prior to their attachment;

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the coupler of the cutting wire of FIG. 4;

FIG. 4B is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the coupler;

FIGS. 5-5E illustrate the method steps for use of the cutting wire of the present invention, the drawings showing cross-sectional views, wherein

FIG. 5 illustrates a conventional balloon catheter inserted over a conventional guidewire;

FIG. 5A illustrates withdrawal of the conventional guidewire;

FIG. 5B illustrates insertion of the of the cutting and tracking members of the present invention through the balloon catheter lumen;

FIG. 5C illustrates withdrawal of the balloon catheter;

FIG. 5D illustrates the balloon catheter inserted over the tracking member; and

FIG. 5E illustrates expansion of the balloon of the balloon catheter to force the cutting member into cutting contact with the lesion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now in detail to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify similar or like components throughout the several views, a cutting member of the present invention is disclosed for use with a tracking member. The tracking member is designated generally by reference numeral 30, and is preferably in the form of a wire, and the cutting member is designated generally by reference numeral 20, and is preferably in the form of a wire. As discussed in more detail below, the tracking wire 30 and cutting wire 20 are attached at a distal portion by the user prior to their insertion so they are insertable as a unit, thus forming a cutting assembly 10. The tracking wire 30 can be a specifically designed wire or can be a conventional guidewire so the cutting wire 20 can be used with a conventional guidewire. After attachment of the two components, the assembly 10 can be used with a conventional catheter, such as an angioplasty catheter.

The device of the present invention functions to treat the stenotic lesion inside the vessel wall, thereby opening or enlarging the passageway in the vessel which was restricted. The stenosis can be a result of plaque buildup, endothelial growth, blood clots, etc. The device can also be used to treat other lesions restricting passageways in other body lumens.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 5C, cutting member in the form of a wire 20 has a distal portion 22 with a coupler 25 extending therefrom. In one embodiment, the coupler 25 is in the form of a collar 26 (FIG. 4A). Coupler 25 can be integral or a separate component attached to wire 20. If a separate component, the user assembles the wires 20 and 30 by attaching the coupler to both the wires 20, 30. That is, for example, both wires 20, 30 can be placed, e.g. inserted, within a coupler or other clamping member and frictionally held therein. The collar 26 has a lumen 24 extending therethrough which is configured to receive a tracking wire or guidewire 30. In this manner, a conventional guidewire can be secured to the cutting wire 20 and the connected wire assembly can be utilized as described below. As shown, the coupler 25 extends around a 360 degree arc to fully enclose the tracking wire 30 when attached. It is also contemplated that it can extend for less than 360 degrees, such as coupler 64 shown in FIG. 4B, to provide a clamp type member 65 on the tracking wire to retain the tracking wire. That is, the clamp type member 65 as shown is C-shaped with an elongated opening or channel 67 through which a tracking wire can be inserted and frictionally clamped thereto to form the cutting assembly.

It should be appreciated that although a collar is illustrated for securement of the tracking wire to the cutting wire, other ways to connect the wire are also contemplated. For example, one or more magnets may be positioned inside the collar 25 or clamp 65 to magnetically attract and retain a distal portion of the tracking wire 30. Interlocking mechanisms, snap fits etc. can also be utilized.

The cutting wire 20 remains unattached proximal of the distal connection to enable it to be separated from the tracking wire 30, e.g. moved transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tracking wire 30. In FIG. 5C, the initial position of the wires 20, 30 are shown; in FIGS. 5D and 5E the wires are separated as described in detail below.

Note the tracking wire and cutting wire can be of substantially the same length, both extending out of the body for reinsertion of a catheter over the tracking wire as described below. Alternatively, they can be of different lengths.

In an alternate embodiment, multiple cutting wires can be provided with a coupler to mount/secure a tracking wire or guidewire. This is shown for example in FIG. 1A where two cutting wires 220 a, 220 b (additional cutting wires are also contemplated) are joined at a distal tip 223, 233, at distal regions 222, 232, respectively, by a coupler 245. Tracking wire 230 can then be inserted into coupler 245, as indicated by the arrow, forming wire assembly 210 for insertion in the same manner as wire assembly 10 discussed below. The coupler can be in the various forms described above e.g. a separate component or integral with one of the wires, and the tracking wire can be connected to the coupler in the various ways described above.

Various configurations of the cutting wire 20 are illustrated to effectively treat lesions. Such variations can also be provided in one or more of the wires 220 a, 220 b in the multiple wire embodiments. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, the wire 20 is substantially circular in cross-section until a transition region, i.e. region 28, preferably at a distal region, where it transitions to a wire substantially triangular in cross section forming a V-shaped cutting surface 27 on a first surface opposite a second surface 29 facing the tracking wire 30. Convex surface (or alternatively a concave surface) can be formed on one, two or all three sides such as sides 70 a, 70 b, 70 c of wire 70 of FIG. 3A. A convex surface on the side opposite the cutting edge helps to conform to the outer surface of the catheter balloon. The cutting region is designated by reference numeral 21 (see FIG. 4) and can transition back to a substantially circular cross-section distal of the cutting region 21 or have such configuration extending to the coupler 25. The circular cross-section proximal and distal of the cutting region 21 provides an atraumatic wire portion.

Other cross-sectional shapes of the cutting wire 20 (and wires 220 a, 220 b) are contemplated, including but not limited to polygonal shapes that are substantially rectangular, square, trapezoidal (see e.g. wire 75 of FIG. 3B), hexagonal, pentagonal, octagonal, diamond shaped, etc. A round or oval wire cross-section with a sharpened surface is also contemplated. In the embodiment of FIG. 3C, a rhombus shape wire 80 in cross section is illustrated. This shape facilitates cutting if the cutting wire is rotated. FIG. 3D illustrates a caltrop shape wire 82 configured so that one point will always point upward. FIG. 3E illustrates an upside down T-shape wire 84. The base 86 can alternatively be convex.

Note, if desired, only a portion of the cutting wire 20 can have the cutting edge or surface, e.g. the distal region, with a remaining portion being atraumatic and non-cutting.

One method of use of the wire assembly 10 of the present invention will now be described. Initially, a conventional angioplasty catheter 100 is inserted over a conventional guidewire 150 to the treatment site as shown in FIG. 5. Guidewire 150 extends through a lumen 112 in the catheter 100. Access to the vessel can be obtained through the femoral artery or vein for example. Note the proximal end of the catheter 100 and guidewire 150 extend outside the patient's body. The angioplasty catheter 100 has an inflatable balloon 120 which is in fluid communication with an inflation lumen of the catheter as is conventional. At the target site, inflation of the balloon 120 expands the balloon to expand the lesion B and widen the lumen of the vessel V.

If the stenotic lesion cannot be successfully opened by a conventional balloon due to lack of force, the cutting wire of the present invention can be utilized. In this case, the guidewire 150 is removed from the guidewire lumen 112 of the catheter 100 (see FIG. 5A) and the wire assembly 10 is inserted through the lumen 112 as shown in FIG. 5B. The wire assembly 10 is formed by the user inserting the tracking guidewire 30 (or alternatively the same guidewire 150) through the lumen 24 of the collar 26 of cutting wire 20 wherein it is frictionally engaged. (The assembly can also be formed in the other ways described above.) With the wires 20, 30 secured, e.g. clamped together, they are inserted into and through the lumen 112 of the catheter, thus enabling the tracking guidewire 20 and cutting wire 30 of the created wire assembly 10 to be inserted to the target site.

Next, the catheter 100 is removed from the treatment site and vessel, and removed from the body, leaving the wire assembly 10 at the target site as shown in FIG. 5C. The catheter 100 is then reinserted over proximal end of tracking wire 30. Note that instead of reinserting the same catheter used in the step of FIG. 5, alternatively, a different balloon catheter (or catheter with other expandable member(s) such as a mechanical expander) can be inserted. In either event, the catheter 100 is inserted over the proximal portion of the tracking wire 30 such that the tracking wire 30 extends through the catheter lumen 112; however, cutting wire 20 remains outside the lumen 112 as shown in FIG. 5D. In this manner, the tracking wire 30 provides a guide for the catheter 100 to the target site, while the cutting wire 20 remains adjacent an outer surface of the catheter 100 for subsequent expansion into contact with the lesion. As shown in FIG. 5D, there is an increased gap 125 between the cutting wire 20 and tracking wire 30 caused by the catheter 100 positioned between the two wires 20, 30.

To expand or move the wire 20 transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tracking wire 30 (and transverse to the longitudinal axis of the catheter 100), the balloon 120 is inflated, forcing the cutting wire 20 into contact with the lesion B so the cutting edge or surface can treat the lesion. It should be appreciated that instead of a balloon, a mechanical expander or other structure can be used to force the cutting wire 20 into contact with the lesion. If desired, the balloon 120 can be deflated and the wire assembly easily rotated to another position for subsequent transverse movement by the balloon 120 into contact with another region of the lesion B. In this manner, the select portions of the stenosis can be treated, as the cutting wire is expanding in one direction. In the multiwire embodiment of FIG. 1A, the foregoing method is the same except that expansion of the balloon forces the several wires into contact with the lesion and fewer, if any, rotations are required.

As can be appreciated, the method described above utilizes the same catheter for the initial step (FIG. 5) as well as for the subsequent step of reinsertion for placement only over the tracking wire 30 (FIG. 5D). However, it is also contemplated that a different catheter can be used for insertion over tracking wire 30 in the step of FIG. 5D.

As can be appreciated, the wire assembly 10 can accommodate balloon catheters having relatively small guidewire lumens. Also, as can be appreciated a conventional guidewire can be utilized so the user can decide the type of guidewire (tracking wire) to be used in the procedure.

Also, although access is described through the femoral artery, other approaches to the target site are also contemplated. Additionally, although described for use to treat lesions in vessel lumens, it can also be used to remove other structures constricting the passageway in the vessel or in other body lumens.

The cutting and tracking components are illustrated as wires, but other structures for the cutting member and tracking member are also contemplated such as a hard plastic tube or a metal hypotube. The metal hypotube can be formed with a cutting surface or alternatively have a cutting member such as a cutting tube attached thereto.

The cutting wire assembly of the present invention as described can be used in various vessels including for example, veins such as the femoral veins, grafts such as dialysis grafts, etc. Other vessels are also contemplated such as use in carotid arteries, coronary arteries, the descending aorta and renal arteries, the external iliac and internal iliac arteries and the common femoral and deep femoral arteries. Applications for this device include, but are not limited to, treating stenotic venous and arterial anastomosis, lesions resistant to conventional angioplasty, stent restenosis, and vessels with buildup of intima, etc.

While the above description contains many specifics, those specifics should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the disclosure, but merely as exemplifications of preferred embodiments thereof. Those skilled in the art will envision many other possible variations that are within the scope and spirit of the disclosure as defined by the claims appended hereto. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of treating a lesion in a body lumen of a patient's body, the method comprising: providing a cutting member; connecting a tracking member to the cutting member to form an assembly; inserting the connected cutting member and tracking member into the body lumen; subsequently inserting a catheter over a proximal end of the tracking member extending outside the patient's body so the tracking member extends through a first lumen of the catheter and the cutting member does not extend through the first lumen; and moving the cutting member away from the tracking member into cutting contact with the lesion to enlarge a passageway in the body lumen.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of inserting the connected cutting member and tracking member comprises a step of inserting the cutting member and tracking member through a lumen of the same catheter subsequently inserted over the tracking member.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of moving the cutting member comprises a step of expanding a balloon of the catheter.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of connecting the cutting and tracking members includes a step of attaching a distal portion of the tracking member to a coupler attached at a distal portion of the cutting member.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the cutting member is a wire and the tracking member is a wire.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of connecting the tracking member to the cutting member comprises a step of inserting the tracking member through a collar positioned at a distal portion of the cutting member.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the cutting member has a first portion of a first configuration and a second portion of a second configuration, the second portion including a cutting surface and the first portion being atraumatic, the second portion being distal of the proximal portion.
 8. A method of treating a lesion in a body lumen, the method comprising: providing a cutting member; connecting a tracking member to the cutting member to form an assembly; inserting the connected cutting member and tracking member into the body lumen; inserting a catheter over the tracking member so the tracking member extends through a first lumen of the catheter and the cutting member does not extend through the first lumen; and moving the cutting member away from the tracking member into cutting contact with the lesion to enlarge a passageway in the body lumen; wherein the step of inserting the connected cutting member and tracking member comprises the step of inserting the cutting member and tracking member through a lumen of an angioplasty catheter, the angioplasty catheter being different than the catheter inserted over the tracking member. 